WHILE Denis Lynch will be gutted following the Aga Khan Trophy yesterday at the Dublin Horse Show, the Irish team performed with great aplomb and for much of the competition you felt that victory was within reach. The atmosphere in the RDS was tense, just as it was in every home where the jump off was being viewed.

Let us take nothing from the Italians who have had a great week, Lorenzo de Luca also visiting the winners circle on three occasions. They had the advantage of jumping second, knew what they needed to do and executed it with precision.